Iach. I will deny nothing. Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb meal! I will go there, and do't; i'the court; before Phi. [Exit. Quite beside The government of patience!--You have won : Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath He hath against himself. Iach. With all my heart. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same. Another room in the same. Enter Posthumus. Post. Is there no way for men to be, but women Must be half workers? We are bastards all; And that most venerable man, which I Did call my father, was I know not where When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his tools Made me a counterfeit: Yet my mother seem'd The Dian of that time: so doth my wife The nonpareil of this.-O vengeance, vengeance! Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd, And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with A pudency1 so rosy, the sweet view on't Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought her As chaste as unsunn'd snow:-O, all the devils!- It is the woman's part: Be it lying, note it, (1) Modesty. Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain, All faults that may be nam'd, nay that hell knows, They are not constant, but are changing still Not half so old as that. I'll write against them, ACT III. SCENE I-Britain. A room of state in Cymbeline's palace. Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, and Lords, at one door; and at another, Caius Lucius, and Attendants. Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us? Luc. When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance yet Live's in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues, Is left untender'd. Queen. Shall be so ever. Clo. And, to kill the marvel, There be many Cæsars, Ere such another Julius. Britain is A world by itself; and we will nothing pay, VOL. VII. L For wearing our own noses. That opportunity, Which then they had to take from us, to resume quest Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag, Of, came, and saw, and overcame: with shame (The first that ever touch'd him,) he was carried From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping (Poor ignorant baubles!) on our terrible seas, Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof, The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point (O, giglet fortune!) to master Caesar's sword, Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright, And Britons strut with courage. Clo. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other of them may have crooked noses; but, to owe such straight arms, none. Cym. Son, let your mother end. Clo. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan : do not say, I am one; but I have a hand.--Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now. Cym. You must know, Till the injurious Romans did extort This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's am bition (1) Strumpet, (Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch Ordain'd our laws; (whose use the sword of Cæsar chise, Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed, Though Rome be therefore angry ;) Mulmutius, Who was the first of Britain, which did put His brows within a golden crown, and call'd Himself a king. Luc. I am sorry, Cymbeline, Receive it from me, then :-War, and confusion, Cym.. cold: So Cæsar shall not find them. Luc. Let proof speak. Clo. His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us a day, or two, longer: If you seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our salt-water girdle: if you beat us out of it, it is (1) At the extremity of defiance. yours; if you fall in the adventure, our crows shall fare the better for you; and there's an end. Luc. So, sir. Cym. I know your master's pleasure, and he mine: All the remain is, welcome. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Another room in the same. Enter Pisanio. Pis. How! of adultery? Wherefore write you not Is fallen into thy ear? What false Italian Let me be counted serviceable. How look I, So much as this fact comes to? Do't: the letter [Reading. I am ignorant in what I am commanded. Pis. Madam, here is a letter from my lord. (1) To take in a town, is to conquer it. |